Archives for July 2015

Olean city officials are submitting apllications for more than $5 million state grants. The Common Council has authorized Mayor Bill Aiello (AIL-leo) to apply for a $4 million grant for the planned overhaul and expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant … another $1 million for improvements to the William O. Smith Recreation Center … and $160,000 for repairs to the 200 block of North Third Street, considered the “worst road in Olean.”

A Smethport man is charged with attempted manslaughter after a shooting during a fight over $20. Pennsylvania State Police say 22-year-old Chase Hill shot a Maryland man in the shoulder with a 20-guage shotgun early Wednesday morning at a home on Franklin Street in Smethport. He’s being held in the McKean County Jail on $200,000 bail.

The heat is on. Temperatures yesterday reached 93 in Olean and 91 in Bradford, breaking 51-year-old records. More of the same is forecast for today, when the heatwave is expected to peak. The daily record high for Wednesday is 87, set in 1988. A cold front will move through tonight.

A second suspect in the armed robbery of a Port Allegany man in Crosby in April has waived their preliminary hearing.
23-year-old Stephanie Berg of Eldred allegedly drove the car used in the robbery of 24-year-old Jacob Borowsky. Richard Gould III of Eldred, accused of luring Borowsky into the vehicle, waived HIS preliminary hearing last month. A third suspect, Shad Gutshall of Warren, allegedly put Borowsky in a choke hold and put a gun to his head, demanding money. Gould and Guthall are being held in the McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. Berg is free on unsecured bond.

A second suspect in the armed robbery of a Port Allegany man in Crosby in April has waived their preliminary hearing.
23-year-old Stephanie Berg of Eldred allegedly drove the car used in the robbery of 24-year-old Jacob Borowsky. Richard Gould III of Eldred, accused of luring Borowsky into the vehicle, waived HIS preliminary hearing last month. A third suspect, Shad Gutshall of Warren, allegedly put Borowsky in a choke hold and put a gun to his head, demanding money. Gould and Guthall are being held in the McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. Berg is free on unsecured bond.

The town of Friendship is celebrating its bicentennial, with four days of activities set to showcase the area, kicking off today. Scheduled events include a parade featuring history-themed floats, a classic car show and re-enactments of what life was like in the early 1800s, when the town was first settled.

An Allegany County man is facing criminal charges after state police found nearly 200 pot plants growing in his home earlier this month. Troopers spotted the plants when they were called to 54-year-old Dwayne Rose’s house in Allen on July 2nd to assist in a medical emergency call. Rose has been charged with unlawful growing of cannibis and criminal possession of marijuana and is scheduled to appear in Town of Belfast court August 25th.

A Cattauraugus County mother accused of killing her one-year-old daughter has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to murder, manslaughter, and child endangerment charges. 24-year-old Leslie Finch of Kill Buck was arraigned in Cattaraugus County Court in Little Valley yesterday. Her daughter, Mila Whipple, died at a Buffalo hospital April 26th of injuries investigators say were likely caused by abuse. Finch remains free on $100,000 bail and is due back in court November 20th.

Torrential downpours washed out roads and flooded basements as four to six inches of rain fell in the norrthern portions of Cattaragus and Allegany counties yesterday afternoon and last night.

The Town of Granger declared a state of emergency. The Allegany County Emergency Services Office said every road in Granger was under water; some were washed out.

Several rescues were conducted near the Town of Angelica, including at the Jones Pond Camp Ground on Old State Road, where the heavy rains and flash flooding created a raging river…washing out a bridge, picnic tables and tent sites.

Numerous roads were flooded in Cattaraugus County, including Route 62 in Leon … Johnson, Aldrich and Chapel streets in Gowanda … and Route 219 was closed in both directions between Ashford Hollow Road and Beaver Meadow Road last night, due to flooding.

Water was flowing into basements in Perrysburg. And there were reports of wind damage, with trees and wires down, in Franklinville.